Ryan and Dunlough Striker (ISH) win at Kilguilkey

CORK-based Michael Ryan and the Irish Sport Horse Dunlough Striker took the Pegus Horse Feed CIC** title this afternoon at the Fernhill Sport Horses Kilguilkey House International Horse Trials in Mallow, Co. Cork.

A previous winner of the class in 2013 with Ballylynch Wizard, Ryan rode Carol and Tom Henry’s Maltstriker gelding to victory, despite incurring 4.4 time penalties.

The win means that the Dan Coleman Perpetual Trophy for the highest placed Munster-based rider stays in the Donegan-Ryan household for a third consecutive year following Patricia Ryan’s performance in last year’s CIC** class.

The cross country questions posed by newly appointed designer Mike Etherington-Smith caused their fair share of problems but the top three remained unchanged from their positions after yesterday’s Dressage and Show-Jumping phases, with Louise Bloomer and Hollybrook Sky High finishing in second and Heidi Hamilton taking third with her own Dam Easy.

Cork-based Rebecca Dunlea slotted into fourth with her own Cashelane Captain while George Russell posted the only clear round inside the time to move up to fifth place on the leaderboard.

In the CIC* competition, Fraser Duffy held onto the lead with Carol Gee’s Summer at Fernhill, completing on their dressage score. A clear round inside the time brought Gerald Bloomer and Calliaghstown Flight up from sixth place to finish in second while Millstreet 2014 pony squad member Jessica Kuehnle held onto third with ‘Rathnaleen Roy.’

Competition at Kilguilkey was particularly important for those vying to impress the team selectors for the 2015 FEI European Championships for Ponies. The CNCP** was won by Cameron Kiernan Jnr. and Bocade Slo-Mo-Shun while Izzy Riley and Monarch of the Glen added four jumping penalties to their dressage score to take second position.

Full results from all classes are available on www.eventingireland.com.

Michael Ryan and Dunlough Striker (ISH)